Chapter 333 Establishing Her Own Power
Paige lifted her head, her gaze shifting from the distant Northwind as she turned and entered the cabin. As she stepped inside, the others followed her in.
After the plane took off and reached a stable altitude, Pearl personally brought a nutritious breakfast. Pearl had barely rested the previous night, busy preparing various things.
For instance, the meal Pearl placed in front of Paige was meticulously arranged by Pearl herself, from the ingredients to the chef.
Of course, Pearl had learned this from Raymond.
Back when Luna passed away, it was around the time Paige first became pregnant. She had a poor appetite, and everyone thought it was due to excessive grief. So, Raymond spent his days researching recipes to ensure Paige's meals were nutritious.
Now, Pearl had copied Raymond's approach but changed things up a bit to avoid reminding Paige of him.
Seeing the food in front of her, Paige realized how empty her stomach felt.
She hadn't finished her breakfast yesterday and had a surreal day until she ended up in a taxi that night.
Not only did she not pay the fare, but she also ate the sandwich the driver had prepared for his daughter.
Paige immediately put down the spoon she had just picked up.
She looked over at Cecil and called out, "Cecil, check on the taxi that took me to the Sackler Villa last night."
Then she instructed Pearl, "Pearl, get the driver's information. I owe him a favor."
Pearl asked, "A favor?"
Paige replied, "A ride during one of the darkest moments of my life."
Pearl understood, "Got it. Don't worry, Ms. Ellison. I'll arrange for someone to find the driver and repay him."
Paige nodded and turned her attention back to the food.
She didn't feel hungry, probably because her mind was preoccupied with so many things, pressing down on her stomach. Despite the emptiness, she didn't feel the urge to eat.
But knowing she had a new life growing inside her, Paige understood that even if she could endure it, the life inside her couldn't.
Given her emotional turmoil and other reasons, she had just managed to keep the pregnancy. If she wanted to give this child a chance at life, she had to eat.
Paige picked up the utensils and forced herself to swallow the food bite by bite.
Pearl watched from the side, wanting to say something but ultimately staying silent.
At this moment, anything she said would be inappropriate.
She knew very well that Ms. Ellison, who had completed ten to twenty years' worth of training in just five years, had an extraordinary resilience.
What happened to her might be cruel, capable of making her lose clarity for a while, but it wouldn't defeat her forever.
Pearl didn't try to persuade her, silently accompanying her through breakfast until her phone kept buzzing with messages.
Pearl checked her phone and couldn't help but ask Paige, "Ms. Ellison, Amelia has been very worried about you. She couldn't reach me this morning and has been messaging me non-stop. I haven't told her about our departure."
Paige put down her utensils, wiped her mouth, and after some thought, said, "Reply to her and let her know we're fine. Tell her not to look for us and not to disclose anything to anyone. The collaboration with the Smith family will continue as usual. I will fully support the Smith family's ventures in hospitals and pharmaceuticals. I will arrange for someone to handle the collaboration between the Smith family and Locas Laboratory. Tell her to take care of herself."
Paige had no intention of involving Amelia.
On one hand, the four people with her had undergone the same training and could remain exceptionally calm and composed in any crisis.
On the other hand, Paige didn't want Raymond to find her through Amelia.
Of course, Paige knew that with Raymond's capabilities, she couldn't hide forever. Raymond would eventually find her, and given her status, she couldn't remain hidden forever.
She just needed time to process everything and make decisions.
Currently, she couldn't face Raymond, nor could she face Bradley.
And then there was Francesca, who had known the truth all along but only admitted their relationship at the last moment.
What a cruel mother!
After giving her instructions, Pearl immediately responded, "Yes, I'll inform Amelia. But Ms. Ellison, the laboratory is your private property. Are you sure you want to collaborate with the Smith family? Given the lab's credentials and Dr. Ashton's reputation, top-tier resources worldwide would be lining up to work with you. And the Smith family, in terms of strength and assets, is relatively small. Can their pharmaceutical investments handle such a significant interest?"
Pearl didn't look down on the Smith family.
On a personal level, she had grown close to Amelia, and their relationship had developed into a genuine friendship.
However, whether from a value perspective or personal feelings, she would always prioritize Paige's interests.
Paige looked at Pearl and said, "The Smith family is fine. As you mentioned, this is my private property, unrelated to any other identity. I need a partner who is smart and loyal. This is more valuable than any resource."
Paige added, "If their assets aren't large enough, we'll help them grow quickly. Since I've come into this world and lived a difficult life, I want to establish a family of my own. The Smith family may not have a high starting point, but they are smart and loyal. I need a family that belongs to me, not to the Ellison family or the Universe Group, but to me alone."
Paige then suddenly looked at Pearl and asked, "Pearl, what should I call myself? Should I give myself a name like you all have?"
Pearl knew how much pain and sadness Paige felt when she said this.
Pearl gently comforted her, "Ms. Ellison, you are Xanthe Ellison. No matter what, you are the chosen heir of Mr. Wesley Ellison. As long as you find the secret funds, or even if you never find them, within thirty years, you stabilize the Universe Group, increase its assets, and ensure the Ellison name continues, you are rightfully Xanthe Ellison."
Paige leaned back weakly. She had been a wanderer with no place to call home. After being thrown into prison, she somehow caught Wesley's eye. She was transferred from a regular prison to a secret island prison, where she underwent five years of training, earning Wesley and other mentors' approval, and was given the identity of Xanthe Ellison.
After leaving prison, she sought the secret funds and reorganized the Universe Group, which was on the verge of collapse due to the lack of an heir.
Wesley had given her a top-tier identity and a future.
Whether to repay Wesley's kindness or to give herself a legitimate identity, her best option was to be Xanthe Ellison!
Only as Xanthe Ellison could she live openly and give birth to her child legitimately.
Having no real connection to the Sackler family, she could no longer be Paige.
With her awkward ties to the Carnegie family, she couldn't be one of them either.
She could only be Xanthe Ellison!
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